New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-19
HIS BIG YACHT RUINED HIM.
FORTUNE GONE IN ONE SEASON.

/ SPORT FOR THE RICH.
In the two advertisements which follow, appar
emily having so little i'm common, is ontanet
briefly the preface and sequel to one mans history
for year:
wANTED.-Bids for building schooner yacht, 100 fee
waerline. Plans and specifications be obtained
by addressing j. I. O., this office
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in any honorable capacity
where living wages can be earned Advertiser was for
merly gentleman. Address j. T. c., this Office
These two paragraphs tell in few words the
story of man who aimed at romance and hit q
drama, who put wheat in the hopper and found
bran in the bin. Both of these seemingly common
place paragraphs were penned by the same hand.
The first appeared in a marine journal in January.
1885, and tho latter in daily paper almost ex-
actly year later The author Of them was j.
Tareton Caulktght. who figured for twelve
month in the newspapers rs "a prominent member
of the Way Back Yacht Club and owner Of the
fast schooner yacht Grasshopper."
Caulktight struggled through his boyhood
on farm somewhere in the wilds of West
en Pennsylvania. He ate mush and
milk at his fathers board until he got so old that
J the name Jimmie" applied to him by his parents,
grated harshly on his ears and he started out to
dig the basement of fortune on his own hook. As
James T. CauIktiRht he found place yawning for
him in Pittsburg "dry- goods palace" and he
/
selling pms yet had not his father died and left
HIM snug little fortune Of $4,000 in cold cash.
Mr. Caulktght was ambitious to shine in some
capacity and with such lining for his pockets he
saw 10 reason why ne should not cast rays In New.
York. Hitler he came, therefore. and began to
look about for most advantageous way to dispose
of his shekels.
As 1t happened, among the first persons he met in
the metropolis young man who. though not
wealthy had by some hook crook been made
member of the Way Back Yacht Club. Though not
ayacht-owner himself, this young man enthu-
sastic over the sport and IN a short time had pre-
vailed upon Caulktight that to make his mark in
New-York he must own yacht.
Having satisfied the membership committee that
he had money enough to entltle him to be called a
gentleman" he was at once enrolled as j. Tareton
Caulktight on the books of the Way Back Yacht
Club. Almost before he had learned the difference
between keel and deck, he had been inveiged
into buying the plans and specifications
of big schooner yacht, by naval ar
chitect, with a plausible story. and had
paid $500 for them. He was advised that
the cheapest way to get the boat built was to adj
vertise for bids. He was rather appalled, at the
prices demanded, but being assured by friends that,
with such vessel the plans called for, he could
win enough prizes to paw the expenses of running
her. and probably sell her when no wanted to for
good deal more than she cost HIM, he decided not
to waver from his original intention. contract
was signed and in three months the GrasshOpper.
keel schooner, 1874 feet all. 100 feet water
line, "a feet beam, ii feet depth of hold and IL
feet draught of water, was ready to go into com.
mission. Her cost up to this time had been over
$50, 900, divided in about this way:
A. Fairy Jones. designer 81 500
Henry Glancehay. builder Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
J. Gentleman sham experimenting construction 900
j. 7. SteDbns. spars dzOO
John NJ woodcuter racing and cruising sails. 45oo
William Minister, plumber ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. .2U
Maryout & Co, nagmakers. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. l60
Hallway Sons, piano. ..-:................--. 15O
Rocker & Co.. furniture and carpets ......... 200
BreakhOpe IL Member china and table mess-.-... 2ooO
Picro Parchesi collation. at launching ...-... l4o
Now came the hiring of the crew. After making
some futile attempts to get some sailors as good
looking as his yacht. Caulktight finally engaged
saing-master and gave him authority to provide
the boat with the necessary compliment OF men.
This was the monthly wage list that stared him IN
the face the next time he went aboard:
First mate 90
F%s S1sII.rns:tci: At s35: 20
Eighteen seaman at $50 $40
Steward. -...-....-...- l0o
TSD,r eGIs cook GO
Mess boy ~
Cabin 20
Total per month ,li0
A few DAYS later bill running something like
this was handed to the GrasshOppers owner:
Two uniform. for sailing. master ........ $50
Tour uniforms for mates 100
Fortv.two uniforms for crew ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1920
7 wo uniforms for steward ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 60
r wo uuforms for cabin boy 40
:. 100
Total.
Caulltght quickly gained the reputation of own
ing one of tue handsomest yachts in the clubs feet